Pivoted link chain



P 19417- L. E. SIMMONS 2,427,929

PIVOTED LINK CHAIN Filed Nov. 1, 1943 I I I Z'nventor: ZeonEShnmami Patented Sept. 23, 1947 PIVOTED LINK CHAIN Leon E. Simmons,-Claremont, N. H., assignor to Joy Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application November 1, 1943, Serial No. 508,461

12 Claims. 1

This invention relates to pivoted link chains and more particularly to an improved locking means for the hinge pins of a mining machine cutter chain.

In mining machine cutter chains it is desirable to lock the hinge pins which pivotally connect the chain blocks and strap links, against rotation with respect to the blocks, so that wear is concentrated on the relatively inexpensive parts. It is further desirable to enable endwise release of the hinge pins from either side of the chain, and to provide for quick and easy connection and release of the pin locks. It is further desirable to enable release of the pin locks without the necessity of frequent replacement of parts.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved hinge pin locking means which embodies the desirable features above outlined. Another object is to provide an improved hinge pin lock construction for a pivoted link chain. A further object is to provide an improved hinge pin lock construction embodying improved pin locking means whereby the pins may be locked against rotation with respect to the chain blocks in a novel manner. Yet another object is to provide an improved pin locking means for locking the pins against both endwise displacement and rotation with respect to the chain blocks. A still further object is to provide an improved hinge pin lock of extremely simple and durable design embodying but a single locking element at each side of the chain for a pair of hinge pins. A still further object is to provide an improved hinge pin locking construction whereby the hinge pins may be readily released in an endwise direction from either side of the cutter chain. Other objects and advantages of the invention will, however, hereinafter more fully appear. I

In the accompanying drawing there is shown for purposes of illustration several embodiments which the invention may assume in practice.

In this drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View, with parts shown in longitudinal vertical section, illustrating a cutter chain equipped with a preferred form of the improved hinge pin locking means.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinally extending horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

r Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of one of the hinge pins shown in Fig-s. 1 and 3.

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the improved locking strip.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view illustrating a modi- -fied form of construction.

Fig. '7 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line 'l---! of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the locking segments shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view, similar to Fig. '7, showing another modified construction.

In this illustrative construction the improved hinge pin k is shown incorporated in a mining machine cutter chain of a conventional design including a series of chain blocks I which are pivotally connected by hinge pins 2 to strap links 3. The blocks have usual sockets for the reception of cutter bits 4, the latter being secured on the blocks by conventional set screws 5. The blocks have side openings 6 for permitting discharge of dirt and cuttings from the spaces within the blocks between the adjacent ends of the strap links. The blocks have usual gibs 1 adapted for reception in the guideways of a conventional cutter bar of a coal mining machine, in a well known manner.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, it will be noted that there are, at each side of each chain block I, longitudinally extending recesses in the form of slots or grooves 8 arranged between the block bores 9 which receive the hinge pins. The hinge pins are at one side, and near both ends, shown as vertically slotted or grooved. at ill, and these slots are positionable in registry with the ends of the block slots 8. A deformable locking element in the form of a bowed or transversely bent locking strip II is disposable in each of the block recesses 8 and is bendable as by hammering inwardly to eiTect insertion of its ends within the pin slots i9, as'clearly shown in Fig. 3. Thus a single locking strip engages a pair of hinge pins 'at each side of each chain block. These locking strips, when bent inwardly into straightened position against the bottoms of the longitudinal block recesses 8, hold the hinge pins both against rotation and endwise displacement with respect to the blocks. The hinge pins may be readily released from either side of the cutter chain simply by inserting a suitable tool T through one of the side block openings 6, in the manner shown in Fig. 2, and then swinging the tool T toward the block to bend the locking strip outwardly to effect with-.

drawal of the ends of the strip from the pin slots IE1. Then the hinge pins maybe readily driven in an endwise direction out of the block bores.

In the modified construction shown in Figs. 6, '7, and 8 the slots IE5 at the opposite ends of the hinge pins are made deeper'than the slots I0, and separate locking segment IE are insertable in these pin slots in the manner shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The deformable lockin strip II is then bent inwardly to bring its ends into square-cornered notches II in the segment IS in a manner similar to that described above and as shown in Fig. 3. The parallel end surfaces I8 of the notches in the segments are engageable with the sides of the locking strips so as to reduce the possibility of the strips springing or bending outwardly in the event the hinge pins tend to turn in their bores in the blocks. In this embodiment the ends of the locking strips must be sheared oiI before appreciable turning of the hinge pins in the blocks is possible, The provision of the separate notched segment l6 eliminates the need for square-notching the hinge pins themselves to provide surfaces corresponding to the surfaces l8, such notching of the hinge pins involving a comparatively difficult machining operation. The locking stripsmay be placed in looking position and;.may be readily released from the blocks in the manner similar to those above discussed.

In the modified embodiment shown in Fig. 9, a

instead of the recesses in which the ends of the locking strips are receivable in the pins themselves, the pins ,2 may be notched completely acr-Q s their ends at 1-9, and elongated locking strips 20 may be caused at their ends to enter recesses 21 in the chain blocks 1' themselves. The recesses 21 open into the pin receiving bores at the sides of these bores that are the more remote from each other. The pins will still be locked against escape in pairs and against rotation on their axes, but escape towards the sides on which the locking strips lie rather than away from such sides, will result. The grooves 8' in the sides of the blocks are somewhat shallower than those of the other embodiments, so that deep notche in the pin-ends are unnecessary. As in the other embodiments, the locking strips are bent into locking position and normally lie straight against the bottoms of the block recesses.

In the several embodiments above described, ,the locking strips may be composed of resilient material such as spring steel and normally straight, and when so formed may be sprung into and out of locking position without permanent bending as in the manners above described. While flat locking strips and slots have been shown, it will be evident that round lockin elements entering round holes in either the pins .or the chain blocks may also be used, if desired.

As a result of this invention improved hinge locking means is provided which i comparatively simple in design and durable in construction. By the provision of the deformable locking strips bendable into longitudinal recesses in the sides of the chain blocks near the side block openings, the strips may be readily released simply by the insertion of a releasing instrument through the side block openings. The locking strips may be used over and over without frequent replacement, and, by the provision of a locking strip at each side of each block, the hinge pins may be readily released from either side of the cutter chain. Other uses and advantages of the invention .will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

While there are in this application specifically described several embodiments which the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that these embodiments of the same are shown forjpurposesofillustration and the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a pivoted link chain, a series of pivotally connected chain elements, certain of said elements havingtransverse bores,-pivot elements received-in said bores respectively and having slots at their adjacent sides, and a relatively rigid, ,permanently deformable locking element common to apair of pivot elements and extending longitudinally of each of said transversely bored elements between the bores thereof, said locking element being centrally bent outwardly when released and bendable inwardly into straightened position flat against the side of the chain to move its ends farther apart to project said ends intosaid pivot-element slots, said ends of said locking element moving toward one another when said locking element is bent outwardly as aforesaid to release saidends from saidslots.

2. In a pivoted link chain, a series of pivotally connected chain elements, certain of said elements having transverse bores and longitudinally extending side recesses arranged between and communicating with the bores, pivot elements received in said bores and having slots, and a locking element extending in said .side recesses longitudinally-of each of said transversely bored elements between the bores thereof and having its ends receivable in said pivot-element-slots, one locking element being common to a pair of pivot elements at each side of the chain.

3. In a pivoted link chain, a series of chain elements pivotally connected by hinge pins, and means for lockingsaid hinge pins against rotation and endwise displacement with respect to the chain elements including a single relatively rigid, permanently deformable locking element extending between a ,pair of hinge pins, said locking element being centrally outwardly bowed when released and bendable inwardly into straightened position flat against the side of the chain to move the ends thereof farther apart to bring said ends into locking engagement with said pins, said ends of said locking element when the latter is bowed outwardly as aforesaid moving toward one another to release .said ends from locking engagement with said pins.

,4. In a pivoted link chain, a series of pivotally connected chain elements, certain of said elements having transverse bores and longitudinal recesses in the sides of the chain elements between said bores, pivot elements received in said bores, and deformable locking strips extending longitudinally in said recesses in said chain elements between the bores thereof, and engaging said pivot elements for holding the latter against rotation and endwise displacement in said transverse bores, one locking strip being common to a pair of pivot elements at each side of the chain, and vsaid strips being deformable upon positioning thereof into and out of locking relation with respect to said pivot elements.

5. In a pivoted link chain, a series of chain blocks pivotally connected by strap links, each block having transverse. bores and side .openings spaced longitudinally of the blocks between said bores, hinge pins received in said transverse bores, and a deformable locking element, extending'longitudinally of each transversely bored element and passing across a side'opening, said locking element engagin said hinge pins and one locking element being common to a pair of hinge pins at each side of the block, said locking elements being releasable from looking relation with the hinge pins by insertion of a releasing instrument through the side block openings.

6. In a pivoted link chain, a series of pivotally connected chain elements, hinge pins pivotally connecting said elements, said pins being slotted near their ends, locking segments receivable in said pin slots and having notches, and locking strips having their ends received in said notches, one locking strip being common to a pair of pins at each side of the chain.

'7. In a pivoted link chain, pivotally connected chain elements, one of said elements having parallel transverse bores, pivot elements received in said bores and having grooved ends, said transversely bored element having recesses at the remote side of and communicating with the bores thereof and disposable in registry with the grooves in the ends of said pivot elements, and a locking element extending longitudinally of said transversely bored element between the bores thereof and extending through the grooves in the ends of said pivot elements into said recesses, one locking element being common to a pair of pivot elements at each side of the chain.

8. In a pivoted link chain, a series of pivotally connected chain elements, hinge pin elements pivotally connecting said chain elements, relatively rigid, permanently deformable locking members supported on and extending longitudinally of certain of said chain elements and each extending transversely with respect to a pair of pin elements supported by the chain elements by which said locking members are respectively supported, said locking members being centrally bent outwardly when released and certain of said elements having recesses receiving the extremities of said locking members when the latter are bent inwardly into straightened position fiat against the sides of the chain, to move said extremities farther apart, and said locking members each precluding turning of a pair of said pin elements on their axes and endwise movement of said pair of pin elements in one direction, said end portions of said locking elements when the latter are bowed outwardly as aforesaid moving nearer together to release said end portions from said recesses thereby to permit turning and endwise movement of said pair of pin elements.

9. In a chain, pivotally connected chain elements, pivot elements for pivotally connecting said chain elements together, certain of said elements having recesses at the opposite sides of the chain, and relatively rigid, permanently deformable locking elements at the opposites sides of the chain and each being centrally bowed outwardly when released and when bent inwardly into straightened position flat against the side of the chain having the end portions thereof moved Number farther apart and received in said recesses, said end portions of said locking elements when the latter are bowed outwardly as aforesaid moving nearer together to release said end portions from said recesses.

10. In a chain, pivotally connected chain elements, pivot elements for pivotally connecting said chain elements together, certain of said elements having recesses at the opposite sides of the chain, and certain of said chain elements being longitudinally grooved at the outer sides thereof, and relatively rigid, permanently deformable locking elements at the opposite sides of the chain and each bein bowed outwardly when released, and each having its ends received in the recesses upon bending of said locking element into straightened position inwardly flat against the side of the chain, said locking elements when straightened lying within said longitudinal grooves.

11. In a chain, pivotally connected chain elements, pivot elements for pivotally connecting said chain elements together, certain of the chain elements having recesses at the remote sides of said pivot elements and at the opposite sides of the chain, and deformable locking elements at the opposite sides of the chain and each being bowed outwardly when released and extending across the ends of said pivot element with its extremities received in said recesses upon bending of said element into straightened position inwardly against the side of the chain, one locking element being common to a pair of pivot elements.

12. In a pivoted link chain, a series of chain elements pivotally connected by hinge pins, and means for locking said hinge pins against rotation and endwise displacement with respect to the chain elements including a single relatively rigid, permanently deformable metallic locking strip extending between a pair of hinge pins at each end of the pins at the opposite sides of the chain, and said locking strips being centrally out wardly bowed when released and bendable inwardly into straightened position flat against the sides of the chain to move the ends thereof farther apart to bring said ends into locking engagement with said pins.

LEON E. SIMMONS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Belcher Mar. 8, 1910 Caldwell May 25, 1897 Klaucke Dec. 19, 1933 Butler Mar. 12, 1907 Morse Sept. 14, 1933 

